Father, Coach React To Danville’s Chris Wondolowski’s Selection To U.S. World Cup Team

PORTLAND, OR - JULY 09: Chris Wondolowski #19 of the United States celebrates scoring his second goal in the first half against Belize during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 9, 2013 at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)Chris Wondolowski #19 of the United States celebrates scoring. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

John once tried to convince Chris that soccer might not be in his future. “I said, ‘You’re married…could this be your last year?’ They would have had to drag him off, kick him out, cut him and have a restraining order for him to stop playing,” John told KPIX 5.

Chris has been an afterthought nearly every stop in his career. The San Jose Earthquakes barely wanted him, and Cal only Division I college program that recruited him

“We knew that he had something special,” said Cal Men’s Soccer Coach Kevin Grimes. “We were trying to keep it under wraps as much as we could…he was a diamond in the rough.”

While Chris’s game fit the Golden Bears, his grades did not. He ended up playing at Chico State.

“That was the beginning of I think his step to where he is right now,” Grimes said.

Chris Wondolowski’s persistence on the Earthquakes led to invitation on the national team.

Wondolowski played in Monday night’s exhibition at Candlestick Park against Azerbaijan, one of three games Team USA is playing before they head to Brazil for the World Cup.